Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Mathematics Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Ohio Assessments for Educators Mathematics Exam. Utilize flashcards, multiple-choice questions, and detailed explanations. Optimize your study efforts and ace your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What defines a trapezoid?

  1. Quadrilateral with all sides equal

  2. Quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides

  3. Quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides

  4. Quadrilateral with unequal angles

The correct answer is: Quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides

A trapezoid is defined specifically as a quadrilateral that has at least one pair of opposite sides that are parallel. This characteristic distinguishes trapezoids from other types of quadrilaterals. Having one pair of parallel sides is the defining trait of a trapezoid, which may also possess various angle relationships and side lengths, but the parallel sides are the primary focus of its definition. In contrast, a quadrilateral with all sides equal refers to a rhombus, while a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides describes a parallelogram or a rectangle, both of which are different from a trapezoid. The definition involving unequal angles does not accurately capture the essence of any specific category of quadrilaterals; trapezoids, in fact, can have equal or unequal angles depending on their specific type (e.g., isosceles trapezoid). The option that describes a quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides is the only one that aligns with the standard geometric definition of a trapezoid.